SUPREME COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4882, 6 February 1903, Page 3

SUPREME COURT.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. Mr Justice Edwards resumed the business of tho criminal sessions at tho Sri-pr-mm (imH justerday. ‘■.MAJOR RUNCH'IMAN” GETS TWELVE AIONTHS. Wm. Ruiicienian, who had described himself as an ex-major of tho Royal Dragoons and of the Egyptian Army, and who iiad been convicted on Tuesday of having obtained certain sums of money by false pretences, was put forward for sentence. Air ilindniarsli, on behalf of tho prisoner, pleaded in mitigation of punishment that tho amounts were .small and could be easily repaid, and that, as far as was known, it was las client’s first offence in the colony or outside it. Air Bell, Crown Prosecutor, pointed out that although the culprit had only been charged in respect to two worthless cheques tho evidence had shown tiiat ho issued a number amounting to about £7O. His Honor, in passing sentence, said the jury was satisfied of. tho prisoner's guilt, and ho had no doubt about it. It. was not a case of passing ono ohcipio under pressure of circumstances, lut for a period of a.month lie had patwed about a dozen cheques, which were dishonoured, i,mowing perfectly well that there was not the slightest probability of their being met. The whole circumstances attending tho particular offence showed it to have boon a deliberate cue-, and were such ns to exclude the prisoner from the benefit of the First Offenders Act. He should ho imprisoned for one year with hard labour. THE PATENT BRICK CASE. The tidal was resumed of Charles Wentworth Langstono and Henry Stuart for conspiracy to defraud Adam Sargent of tiho sum of £l5O in the month of October last, and for having obtained tho sum in question by false pretences. Air Bell prosecuted for tho Crown, Air Gray appeared for Langstono, amt Air Young on behalf of Stuart. Tho Crown case having closed, Stuart elected to bo examined and stated that tho cheque lie gave to Langstono—each knowing there was nob sufficient money to meet it. and it being understood that it was mat to bo presented—was intended to ho held over until the accrued profits would bo able to moot it. The cheque was subsequently exchanged for bills, as Langstono said tho cheque might cause trouble, if it fell into anybody’s hands. He (Stuart) had met with very severe loss in connection with the transaction. Counsel having addressed tho jury, and the Judge having summed up. tho jury retired and after an hour's absence returned into Court with a verdict of guilty, hut. recommended Stuart to mercy on the ground that he had boon, to a certain extent, the tool of Langstone. Stuart being a first offender, sentence was deferred until 2.30 p.m. to-day for tho probation officer’s report